How many days at Yellowstone

We did 5 days and do in in segments so your days aren't so long. We went in the Eastern that time because there was a fire but have done the northern and it is easier. Remember to gear down and let the engine do the braking, get too fast apply brakes hard to slow then let them cool. You do not have a signature but if your brake fluid is old it may have water in it and need changed for safer mountain braking.
When they tell you to clean your grill before you put it away. Do it. A bear tore a bin open while we were there. The biggest geyser usually goes off in the evening (not Old Faithful) I made the mistake of walking out alone and had to share the walkway with a coyote coming towards me, I didn't look him in the eye and prayed hard. I could have touched him as he passed. If you are with kids hang on to them the springs are hot. Park is beautiful and I am ready to go back again.

Thanks for all the replays to my Yellowstone question
We ended up with a plan to stay at Fishing Bridge for 6 nights then drive to Colter Bay Village for 3 nights.
If we don't see it all might just have to go back!!!

I planned on three days, one day for North Loop, one for South loop, and an extra. got there early on the day of arrival and saw Old Faithful then, so left a day early. would be different if you want to hike, etc. I got my fill of stinking sulfur pots in my two full days.
bumpy

We did a 7 day stay at Yellowstonea few years back and that was enough. We divided the park into segments and spent the day exploring that area and did picnic suppers so we didn't have to rush back to the camper.

Just slightly off topic but get and read the book `Tracking the Spirit of Yellowstone'. The author, a sometime Ranger, states that there are part of Yellowstone that hasn't seen Man.
I say four days minimum and take the tours rather than driving around yourself.

Golferdave78 wrote:
I would imagine someone could spends weeks at Yellowstone, but.
We are doing a 4/5 week tour from Atlanta and back.

So 28-37 days? Plan for the longer trip if you see it all you can come home and play a couple rounds of golf. (you will be surprised at how fast the time FLY’s by) Are you still going with another couple? If so I might suggest, that along with the reservations in the CG you make a Reservation for say two nights in the Yellowstone Lodge one for each couple, IMHO the Lodges in the older NP’s are part of the story of the Park and should be experienced along with the hikes and drives in the parks. And a break every now and then is nice.


Realistically home many days should we spend at Yellowstone?

From the way you describe your preferences, 5 days should work, if not, a move to the outside of the park or to Teton NP will allow more time to back track and check out things you missed.

We are the kind of folks that love the outdoors but aren't going to hike.

Even if you do not take “Hikes” you will be walking, almost like 18 holes, every day just to get to the view points and the walkways, so find those really GOOD, Comfortable shoes, and wear them just like your golf shoes. (You do walk when you play?)

We like to see the beauty of the area and then move on.

The beauty of the area is pretty expansive, so IMHO, this trip will just be a “First” look and just like a Golf course will require many, many rounds to learn how to play the course.

I just booked 5 days at fishing Bridge.
Is that enough?

It should work,

From there we are going to Grand Tetons, 2 days there is that enough?

Lake and a couple good drives you will be good so that you can get a tee time for your next trip, :)

Advice on where to stay at Grand Tetons with 35ft Motorhomes wanting full hookups?

Advice on CG's is not my thing – we generally travel in the off season, so we do not make reservations and when we don’t have a place to stay, we just Boondock/Wal*Mart.

Thanks in advance!!!

I think I read that you might try to come in from The Black Hills/Custer/ Mount Rushmore? If so the trip in might include Cody – Red Lodge – Beartooth – Chief Joseph – these are all area that will allow you to see some pretty memorable places.

Then the trip up to Glacier?

BOL,

We were going to spend 13 days at Yellowstone but a fire made us leave one day early. The day we were going to go into the backcountry had to be cancelled as a fire was coming straight at the campground we were staying at. We like to hike so we see things that other people miss. If you just want to drive up and snap a few pictures you just need a few days.
We go in the fall when the animals are coming down and we got pictures of elk, moose, deer, a wolf and from a distance several bear.

Keeping it simple - one day to do the south loop, one day to do the north loop and one day to run out to West Yellowstone. This will get you all the main attractions. If you want to do some serious hiking or just sit around and enjoy the camping experience there you would add days accordingly.

kknowlton wrote:
You have plenty of time with that scenario, Golferdave. If you find, after 4 days in Yellowstone, you really have hit all the highlights you want, you could go explore something outside the park: Cody is great (the Buffalo Bill Museum is fantastic, much more than you'd expect) and if you like old "ghost towns," Virginia & Nevada City MT are fun - both a nice day trip from YNP.

As for the CG in the Tetons - Colter Bay RV Village, hands down. Make reservations as soon as you can; they do fill up. Full hookups, you camp in the pines, but they do have room for big rigs. The other private CGs are either in the town of Jackson, not by the Tetons, or get terrible reviews (and I believe deservedly, from what we've seen driving by).

Sounds like you're on your way to a great Yellowstone-Tetons vacation! :)

Your recommendation is EXACTLY what our plans are next week. :) :)

5 days should be enough. What entrance are you planning on using? The eastern entrances go over really high mountain pass, while entering from Livingston from I90 means a lot less mountain driving. This is the north entrance, and it is really easy for a trailer or motorhome.

Fishing Bridge is central to Yellowstone. From there, you can go west to Old Faithful, or make a loop around to see parts of the park.

My suggestion is using either the north or south entrances, and then go to Fishing Bridge, settle in. Perhaps a short drive to see Old Faithful, and get the times that it will erupt. IT can take up to about 90 minutes, depending on how long it has been since the last eruption, and how much time that one erupted for.

Another day go around the north loop.

Another day go around the south loop.

You might want to take a day to see the eastern side of the park.

The area around Fishing Bridge can be checked out anytime, it is close to you.

Be sure and reserve some time to relax, and not be driving all the time, you might get back home and say "We drove 5,000 miles in 3 weeks and never relaxed at all! I need a vacation from all that driving"

Grand Tetons, I did take a tram ride to the top of a ski resort. It takes you back down too. The view from the top was wonderful!

My dog was very hyper, and I took her for a trip around the lake, she was running 20 MPH while my wife was behind us in the RV, and I was on a bike beside her. After two miles, she finally calmed down a bit. . .

Have fun on your trip!

Fred.